These chocolate chip treats are so yummy that I call them “bliss balls.” They are so delicious that it’s nearly impossible to stop at one, and even difficult to stop at two. I suggest you make a double batch to enjoy throughout the week. They store well so they are ideal for lunch box treats, quick snacks, potlucks, and picnics.
Ingredients:
1 cup rolled oats
12 dates, pitted (½ cup)
¼ cup slivered almonds
¼ cup grain-sweetened chocolate chips
16 dried cherries (1 ounce)
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1. Preheat the oven to 375°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. Combine the oats, dates, almonds, chocolate chips, cherries, and vanilla in a food processor. Pulse until coarsely chopped and the mixture starts to bind. Add 1 to 2 tablespoons of water if needed, to help bind.
3. For each bliss ball, scoop 1 tablespoon of the mixture, gently roll it into a ball, and place on the prepared baking sheet. Be careful not to compact the balls.
Bake for 20 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack to cool.
Makes: 12 bliss balls; Ready in: 35 minutes
Photo by: Oliver Barth, LA Food Photography (lafoodphotography.com)
Darshana Thacker is chef and culinary project manager for Forks Over Knives, an organization that empowers people to live healthier lives by changing the
way the world understands nutrition. A graduate of the Natural Gourmet Institute, she’s known for her hearty and distinctly flavorful creations, which draw
inspiration from a wide range of ethnic traditions. Chef Darshana was the recipe author of Forks Over Knives Family and a lead recipe contributor for the New York Times bestseller The Forks Over Knives Plan.
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